Metro police department is reaccredited

The Metro Nashville Police Department was reaccredited Saturday by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The agency sent three inspectors to review the department for four days in April. The inspectors found no noncompliance issues in Metro's policies or procedures and renewed accreditation through 2011. "Achieving and maintaining accreditation is a commitment not all law enforcement agencies chose to make," Chief Ronal Serpas said in a statement. "Today's reaccreditation action is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our officers, professional support staff and community partners to make a real difference in Nashville's safety and quality of life." Metro's police department first received accreditation in 1994. — LACEY LYONSllyons@tennessean.com

Metro police to test for steroids

By KATE HOWARD • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • June 16, 2008 Metro police announced today that they've added anabolic steroids to their random drug testing policy, spurred by an international investigation into steroid use and sales that has led to the decommissioning of three Metro officers. The addition will more than triple the cost of each of the 300 random drug tests the police department completes each year, according to a release today. Previously, the department tested for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, opiates and PCP. “This police department insists on the highest standards of behavior from our employees in providing the most professional police services possible," Police Chief Ronal Serpas said in a statement. " It is imperative that the communities we serve have strong confidence that this is an agency totally committed to a drug-free work force. That drug-free definition includes anabolic steroids.” Three veteran Metro officers have been on paid administrative leave since February, when police officials said they were implicated in a wide-ranging federal investigation into anabolic steroids. Police officials have not said whether they're suspected of using or involved in the sale of steroids. A police trainee resigned after he was questioned in connection with the investigation.